As I look around us for a vantage point, a phantom weight closes around my throat, keeping me from breathing properly. I try to growl, but it comes out strangled and quiet, so instead, I slap Eamon’s hand, getting his attention and pointing at my throat. He looks back at the kids in front of the building, muttering, “No time to scope it out, then. Based on that,” he gestures at my neck, “I’m guessing your girl’s got only minutes left.”
No.
Unable to slow myself, I launch across the street towards the hunters masquerading as unhoused youth. They all start shouting about my presence, presumably hoping to alert their leaders. By the time anyone comes to check on them, they’ll all be dead already. But whoever comes to retrieve them will lead me back to Belissenda. The collar around my throat left as quickly as it came, leaving me gasping for breath before the next attack.
Around the corner, a door slams open, followed by a stream of shouts and the stomp of feet. I hear the cacophony of warning signals before I see their shadows heading toward me. Slinking into the darkness, I hide and wait. Once the final guard is within my sight and away from the door they exited, Eamon sneaks behind them in the direction from whence they came.
We didn’t have much time to make a plan, but his voice echoes in my head:I’ll go in first while you deal with these ones, see if I can’t get their generators shut down.I forgot they can do that. Fucking unsettling is what that is.
I waste no time letting myself be known to the armed men filing out of the building. Each bullet penetrating my skin burns, but nothing could compare to the agony of knowing Belissenda is in danger because of me. With a snarl, I rip through each of their bodies, the spray of it hitting my skin with a loud splat whilst avoiding their firearms to the best of my abilities. I only take a few hits while I tear the men apart, but those hits still hurt.
Leaving the scraps of men behind, I grab the largest gun in their arsenal and bring it along with me. I can fight and scrape our way out, but Bel being able to defend herself as I do will be an immense help.
Locating the door into the compound, helpfully left cracked open for me, I silently slide inside, noting that Eamon’s and my presence have set off all the alarms within it. Keeping myself flush to the wall, I look down each hallway before deciding to move to my left. Nothing hurts, and I hope that means she’s no longer being tortured, not that she’s finally succumbed to her injuries.
As I follow my instincts, I hear more pounding footsteps and shouting of orders. I don’t understand the code they’re using, but it doesn’t matter. I use the flashing lights to my advantage and hide behind a darkened corner. Eight men in uniforms run right past me, presumably to where Eamon is making an awful lot of noise.
The alarm shuts off, along with the lights, bathing me in pitch black, without even the hum of electricity to drown out the sounds echoing inside the building.Eamon is a genius.Continuing on my search, I notice that without the light, most of their team is completely blind. They won’t even need to be dispatched.
Almost there.I’m not sure how I know it, but I do. Bel’s so close, I swear I can smell her— wait, no, that’s exactly what that is. She smells so scared. I’m going to kill whoever dared put their hands on her. The scent of her and her fear is buried within a litany of other, far less pleasant smells.So many beings here.
I spot a door made of the same concrete as the wall and quietly ease it open, coming face to face with my worst nightmare.
“Come on in, demon scum. We’re right here,” a man calls to me, the same man currently pointing a gun in my sweet Bel’s direction. It’s so dark in here; there’s no way he sees that it’s pointed slightly away from her, but nonetheless, he’s dared to threaten her, so he must die.
All around them, countless cages hold men, women, children, and demons. The overwhelming tang of fresh blood has me seeing red. They’ve tortured and bled her out, along with who knows how many just like her. I’m taking huge gulping breaths to calm myself, lest I give away my location to the piece of shit I’m about to kill.
If I could open one of these demons cages, maybe they’d help me. But how could I open one? If they can’t get out, the bars must be spelled. And they’d probably just grab their mortals and run. That’s certainly what I would do.
Silently, a large, clawed hand lands on my shoulder, interrupting my escape planning. Eamon speaks in my mind again:Talk to him, distract him. He doesn’t know I’m here since he was expecting Fritz. I’ll go get her.
As he extracts his hand from my shoulder, the armed man speaks again, “Come now. Don’t be shy. Who found us first? I have my guesses, but I’d sure appreciate it if you told me.” I consider just taking the gun from him, but surely he has more advanced weaponry around him. I need to let Eamon catch him unaware, but that means stalling the religious zealot with a deadly weapon trained on my Bel.
“You can’t be here!” Bel shouts, “It’s a trap. You need to run, please!”
I sigh, “I know it is, baby. But it’s alright. You’re going to be safe.” The sob she utters when she hears my voice is not one of relief, like I had hoped, but one of the most powerful agony.
The man continues, “It’s Caspian, then? I had figured. Though I doubt Fritz is too far behind you,” he chuckles at my lack of response, “You know we’ve known where he is for years, but it wasn’t until your little slut here that we found a way to bring him down too.”
A growl escapes my chest at the horrid way he speaks of her.
“Just go, Cas. Please,” she begs, “I’m going to be fine. They won’t kill me if they don’t have you here. Just… I need you to take care of Isla, okay? I need you guys to do that for me, cuz I’m not gonna be around to do it.”
“I can’t do that, Belissenda, remember?” I prod as Eamon disappears into theAether, reminding her to fight, “You promised you wouldn’t suffer for me.”
“I fucking lied!” she shouts, “I-”
The man with the gun shakes Bel’s shoulder, forcing her to stop speaking and sob again, “Yes, this is very adorable. Very romantic. But now that you’re here, Caspian, we have plans we need to get started.” He grabs Bel by the hair, though very clumsily, due to his lack of sight. Eamon materializes beside them, carefully stepping around a fresh corpse so as not to be heard.
If he can get a few steps closer, I can rip the gun from the man’s hand so Eamon can dispatch him. Even if we only gain a few seconds to get Bel out of those restraints, it’ll be enough.
“Before you get any ideas,” the man smiles, “The gun is attached to me and I am averyquick shot. I’ll send a bullet through her pretty little head before you can even attempt to take it. So what you’re going to do is be a good little demon and let yourself into that cage right there and close it behind you.”
You’re a fool if you think threatening her further will protect you.
“I love you, Caspian,” Bel smiles a bit and confesses between sniffles, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” then closes her eyes, unwilling to see if he decides to kill her or if he’s truly bluffing as she theorizes.
“Hey, what the f-” the man turns toward Eamon, noting his presence only a second too late.
